Exercise device of the twist board type



July 8, 1969 E. M. VOGT EXERCISE DEVICE OF THE TWIST BOARD TYPE Filed July is, 1966 Sheet INVENTOR.

AITQRNEY Filed Jul 18, 1966 July 8, 1969 Y E. M. VOG T I EXERCISE DEVICE OF THE TWIST BOARD TYPE Sheet 2 of 2 I lgI/I/I/I/ I/ I //1 43 ,IIHI M 45 I I! l l l Il|Il\\\/. 4? 5:1 .15. I )1 X 1 INVENTOR. 2 ,1 f [awm M V0 1 MW .5 -\C" il ATIQRNEI United States Patent 3,454,273 EXERCISE DEVICE OF THE TWIST BOARD TYPE Edwin M. Vogt, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Vogt Appliance Corporation, Kalamazoo, MiclL, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 18, 1966, Ser. No. 565,804 Int. Cl. A63b 23/04 US. Cl. 27257 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An exercise device of the twist board type having a lower supporting member and an upper rotatable member including an improved ball bearing assembly interposed between the upper and lower members and improved means for assembling the various components and maintaining the same in certain predetermined positions relative to one another While permitting relative rotation between said upper and lower members.

This invention relates to improvements in exercise device of the twist board type. The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an exercise device of the twist board type which may be used with the operator standing in an upright position and which may also be used in incapacitated, bedridden persons to exercise their leg muscles with a minimum of expended energy.

Second, to provide an exercise device of the twist board type which is particularly simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Third, to provide an exercise device of the twist board type having a removable foot retaining means on its upper surface for retaining the operators feet on the board while the operator is in a reclining position on a bed.

Fourth, to provide an exercise device of the twist board type in which the bearing elements permitting easy rotation between the upper and lower members of the twist board are retained between the upper and lower members by the same means which retain the upper and lower members together, thus reducing the cost of the bearing elements.

Fifth, to provide a novel form of bearing assembly, for a twist board exerciser in which separate opposed bearing race elements and ball bearings positioned therebetween are freely supported between the upper and lower members of the exercise device and retained in position by means securing the upper and lower members on opposite sides of the bearing elements.

Sixth, to provide a twist board exercising device of the type described in which the means for retaining the upper and lower members on opposite sides of the bearing elements consists of a single central pivot bolt holding the upper and lower members together.

Seventh, to provide an exercise device of the type described in which the means for holding the upper and lower members together on opposite sides of the bearing elements consists of a rotatable annular snap connection between overlapped parts of the upper and lower members of the twist board device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims. The drawings of which there are two sheets illustrate two highly practical forms of the twist board exercise device.

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a first form of the exercise device of the invention with the foot retaining strap or stirrup in place thereon.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross ice sectional view taken along the plane of the line 2-2 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified form of the exercise device of the invention with the foot retaining strap or stirrup removed.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the upper member of the twist board shown in FIGURE 3 with a portion of one race of the bearing element of the twist board overlaid thereon in its operative position.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 55 shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the bottom member of the exercise device shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 7-7 in FIG- URE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view through the modified form of exercise device taken along the plane of the broken line 8-8 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation of the exercise device shown in FIGURE 1 with dotted lines indicating the manner of use of the exercise device by a person in reclining position.

The first form of exercise device shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 consists of a lower base or supporting member 1 of suitable size and an upper rotatable member 2 of suitable size. The upper and lower members 2 and 1 are conveniently made out of wood or composition material, the conventional illustration of wood panels being an example only of suitable materials. Desirably the members 1 and 2 are of rectangular shape and the lower member 1 is larger than the upper rotatable member. The upper face of the lower member 1 is provided with a circular groove 3 of upwardly concave cross section arranged concentrically around a center bore 4 in the lower member. The groove 3 receives a downwardly convex rib 5 formed in a generally flat annular plate of metal 6 which forms a lower ball race. Opposed to groove 3 and the race 6', the upper member 2 is provided with a circular downwardly concave groove 7 which receives the upwardly convex rib 8 formed in the upper annular bearing race 9 which seats against the under surface of the upper member. The 0pposed races '6 and 9 have a plurality of ball bearings 10 freely rollingly positioned within the grooves 5 and 7 and rotatably supporting the upper member from the lower member. The upper member 2 is provided with a central bore 11 through which a single clamp bolt 12 extends to hold the upper and lower members together and to retain the bearing races and the ball bearings between. the members of the exercise device. The head 13 of the retaining bolt is positioned in a recess 14 in the upper surface of the upper member while the nut 15 on the lower end of the retaining bolt is positioned in a downwardly opening recess 16 in the bottom of the lower supporting member. Washers 17 positioned between the head and not of the bolt and the opposed surfaces of the members 2 and 1 respectively permit free rotation of the upper member on the bearing assemblies 6-10, while preventing separation of the race elements 6 and 9 and loss of the ball bearings 10. The ball bearings have a selfcentering engagement between the grooves in the races and the corresponding grooves in the upper and lower members of the board. It will be noted that the upper and lower members may be economically and accurately manufactured by forming the grooves 5 and 7 concurrently with the bores in the centers of the two boards.

The end 13 of the retaining bolt 12 also secures the male element 18 of a snap fastener indicated generally at 19 in the recess 14 in the upper member. Positioned on opposite sides of the upper member 2 are corresponding male snap elements 20 of snap fasteners 21 which are secured in place by any suitable means such as the wood screws 22 illustrated. The snap fastener elements 18 and 20 cooperate with female snap fastener elements 23 and 24 which are secured respectively to the center and ends of a flexible strap 25 so that the strap forms two spaced foot retaining stirrups or loops 26, one on each side of the center of the board. The strap 25 may be of elastic material or of any desirable nonstretchable material. When it is desired to use the exercise device in the usual erect standing position of the operator the foot retaining means formed by the strap 25 may be removed or the operator may merely stand on top of the strap.

The exercise device with the foot retaining means thereon is particularly useful and beneficial for providing mild exercise and leg muscle therapy for bedridden persons, as shown in FIGURE 9. The exercise device may be placed on the surface of a bed and the patient may pass his feet through the retaining loops 26 as illustrated with his knees drawn up. In this position the exercise device supports the patients legs in their elevated position and no great energy is required to hold the legs elevated. At the same time the patient may twist the legs and ankles slightly to the right and left on the free twisting upper member 1 of the exercise device and thus obtain mild and desirable exercise of the leg muscles.

The modified form of the exercise device shown in FIGURES 3 to 8 consists of an upper member 27 and a lower member 28 which are made as molds from suitable plastic material as illustrated. The upper member 27 is of generally rectangular outline with a relatively thin top panel or surface 29. A peripheral downturned flange 30 is formed on the perimeter of the top panel as is a central cylindrical depending flange 31. Between the central flange 31 and the peripheral flange 30 the top panel 29 is provided with a thickened circular rib 32. The rib 32 is concentric about the central cylindrical flange 31 and has a downwardly facing concave groove 33 formed in its lower surface. The groove receives and supports the rib 34 formed in a generally flat annular metallic ring 35 forming the upper raceway for a series of ball bearings 36.

A plurality of radially extending, downwardly depending stiffening ribs 37 are formed integrally on the underside of the top panel 29 and extend between the central cylindrical flange 31 and the rib 32 and outwardly beyond the rib to the peripheral flange 30 as at 38. Positioned in a circle concentrically about the cylindrical flange 31 and concentric with the rib or flange 32 are a series of integrally formed downwardly projecting pins or studs 39. The studs have upwardly and inwardly tapered surfaces 40 on their radially inwardly facing lower corners and are provided with radially inwardly facing notches 140.

The lower member 28 is a spider-like circular member having a generally cylindrical upstanding outer body 41 connected by radially extending ribs 42 to a central cylindrical portion 43. A radially inwardly projecting flange 44 on the bottom of the body 41 may be provided to increase the rigidity of the lower member if desired. The upper surface of the circular body 41 is provided with an upwardly concave circular groove 45 which receives and supports a downwardly convex rib 46 formed in a second and lower generally flat annular metallic race element 146. The race element 146 is supported on the upper edge of the body 41 and the outer ends of the ribs 42. An outwardly projecting circular flange 47 projects from the top of the body 41 and is sized to snap within the notches 140 in the studs 39 on the top member when the top member 27 is assembled on the lower member with the bearing elements 34, 36 and 146 positioned therebetween. The beveled edges 40 on the studs 39 facilitate snap engagement of the upper member over the rim of the lower member and retain the members and the hear ing elements together while permitting free rotation of the upper element or member on the lower member. As in the case of the first form of exercise device, the upper member 27 is provided with a male snap connector element 147 secured by a rivet 48 within the outline of the central cylindrical flange 31 while other male snap connector elements 49 are secured to opposite sides of the peripheral flange 30 by rivets 50. This permits the attachment of a foot retaining stirrup or strap similar to the strap 25 to the modified form of the exercise device.

In both forms of the exercise device the upper and lower members of the twist board are secured together on opposite sides of the rotary bearing elements by the same means which retains the bearing elements together so that the bearing elements are extremely simple and inexpensive. In the second form of the device shown in FIGURES 3 to 8 the retaining means consists of the snap connection between the studs 39 on the top member with the rim of the lower member.

What is claimed as new is:

1. An exercise device of the twist board type comprising, in combination, a lower supporting member adapted to rest on a generally flat supporting surface, an upper rotatable member having a platform integral therewith on which a user may stand, said lower supporting member having an annular groove formed in its upper surface, said upper rotatable member having an annular groove formed in its lower surface, a pair of ball race members each having an annular concave ball groove formed in one side thereof so as to form a corresponding annular convex rib on the opposite side thereof, one of said ball race members being positioned on said upper surface of said lower supporting member with its annular convex rib disposed in the annular groove formed in said upper surface and the other of said ball race members being positioned against said lower surface of said upper rotatable member within its annular convex rib disposed in the annular groove formed in said lower surface, said pair of ball race members being disposed in opposed relation so that said ball grooves define a ball track therebetween, a plurality of balls disposed in said ball track to facilitate rotation of said upper rotatable member relative to said lower supporting member, and retaining means for holding said upper and lower members together with said pair of ball race members and said balls confined therebetween, said ball race members being respectively unsecured to said lower supporting member and said upper rotatable member and held in place due to said holding together of said lower member and said upper member by said retaining means.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said ball race members comprises an annular band which is narrow in width relative to its diameter.

3. The invention of claim 1 including, in combination, a first central opening formed in said upper rotatable member located concentrically relative to the annular groove formed in the lower surface thereof, a second central opening formed in said lower supporting member located concentrically relative to the annular groove formed in the upper surface thereof, and retaining means comprising central pin means extending through said ball race members and into said first and second central openings, said pin means being anchored to said upper rotatable member and said lower supporting member to hold said upper and lower members together while permitting rotation of said upper rotatable member relative to said lower supporting member.

4. An exercise device of the twist board type comprising, in combination, a lower supporting member made of a non-metallic material and adapted to rest on a generally flat supporting surface, an upper rotatable member made of a non-metallic material and having a platform integral therewith on which a user may stand, said lower supporting member having an annular groove formed in its upper surface, said upper rotatable member having an annular groove formed in its lower surface, a pair of metal ball race members each having an annular concave ball groove formed in one side thereof so as to form a corresponding annular convex rib on the opposite side thereof, each of said ball race members comprising an annular sheet-like band Which is narrow in width relative to its diameter, one of said ball race members being ositioned on said upper surface of said lower supporting member with its annular convex rib disposed in the annular groove formed in said upper surface and the other of said ball race members being positioned against said lower surface of said upper rotatable member with its annular convex rib disposed in the annular groove formed in said lower surface, said pair of ball race members being disposed in opposed relation so that said ball grooves define a ball track therebetween, a

plurality of balls disposed in said ball track to facilitate rotation of said upper rotatable member relative to said lower supporting member, a first central opening formed in said upper rotatable member located concentrically relative to the annular groove formed in the lower surface thereof, a second central opening formed in said lower supporting member located concentrically relative to the annular groove formed in the upper surface thereof, and a single central pin means extending axially through said ball race members and into said first and second central openings and anchored to said upper rotatable member and said lower supporting member for holding said members together with said pair of race members and said balls confined therebetween while permitting rotation of said upper rotatable member relative to said lower supporting member, said ball race members having an inner diameter substantially greater than the diameter of said pin means and being respectively unsecured to said lower supporting member and said upper rotatable member and held in place with their convex rib portions interlocked in the grooves formed respectively in the upper and lower members due to said holding together of said lower member and said upper member by said central pin means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 497,657 5/1893 Haley 27257 568,380 9/1896 Theiring 27257 1,608,704 11/ 1926 McConaha 108-139 2,459,017 1/ 1949 Crew 108139 1,533,500 4/1925 Hovda 27257 1,565,484 12/ 1925 McWhirter 27257 1,989,899 2/1935 Vance 27257 2,311,274 2/1943 Whitney 27257 3,063,714 11/1962 Krauss 272-57 3,372,930 3/1968 Sertich 27257 FOREIGN PATENTS 984,944 3/ 1965 Great Britain.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD W. DIAZ, JR., Assistant Examiner. 

